How did the Social Democratic Party of Germany continue to participate in elections while it was outlawed?

Between 1878 and 1890, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) was officially outlawed by the German government under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck through the Anti-Socialist Law.12

Despite this legislation, which prohibited the party from holding meetings or distributing literature, the SPD was able to continue participating in elections because the law did not prevent individual socialists from running for office. By focusing on a strategy of public education rather than conspiracy, the party maintained its visibility and influence among the working class. This resilience proved highly effective; by 1912, the SPD had become the largest party in the Reichstag, securing more than one-third of the national vote.12